2024 Florida Hunting Season Highlights: Dates & Bags Guide!”

Florida, the Sunshine State, caters not only to sunbathers and beachgoers, but also  hunters seeking the thrill of diverse landscapes. Florida has many hunting opportunities year-round, from muddy marshes to vast farmlands. Successful and ethical hunting requires strategic navigation of the state’s hunting seasons. Prepare your camouflage, polish your blades, and discover Florida’s 2024 game calendar as below:

Florida Hunting Season Dates

Deer

ZoneSeasonDatesYouth Deer Hunt Weekend
AArcheryJuly 29 – Aug. 27Sept. 9-10
 CrossbowJuly 29 – Sept. 1Sept. 9-10
 Muzzleloading gunSept. 2-15Sept. 9-10
 General gunSept. 16 – Oct. 15 Nov. 18 – Jan. 7Sept. 9-10
 Antlerless deerDMU A2: Nov. 18-19 DMU A3: Nov. 18-21Sept. 9-10
BArcheryOct. 14 – Nov. 12Nov. 25-26
 CrossbowOct. 14 – Nov. 17Nov. 25-26
 Muzzleloading gunNov. 18 – Dec. 1Nov. 25-26
 General gunDec. 2 – Feb. 18Nov. 25-26
 Antlerless deerDec. 29-31Nov. 25-26
CArcherySept. 16 – Oct. 15Oct. 28-29
 CrossbowSept. 16 – Oct. 20Oct. 28-29
 Muzzleloading gunOct. 21 – Nov. 3Oct. 28-29
 General gunNov. 4 – Jan. 21Oct. 28-29
 Antlerless deerDMU C1: Nov. 17-20 DMU C2: Nov. 17-19 DMU C3: Nov. 17-19 DMU C4: Nov. 17-20 DMU C5: Nov. 4-5, Nov. 18-19 DMU C6: Nov. 17-20Oct. 28-29
DArcheryOct. 21 – Nov. 22Dec. 2-3
 CrossbowOct. 21 – Nov. 22, Nov. 27 – Dec. 1Dec. 2-3
 Muzzleloading gunDec. 2-8, Feb. 19-25Dec. 2-3
 General gunNov. 23-26, Dec. 9 – Feb. 18Dec. 2-3
 Antlerless deerDMU D1: Nov. 25-26, Dec. 30-31 DMU D2: Nov. 23-26 

Bag Limit

SeasonType of  AllowedDaily Bag LimitPossession LimitAnnual Bag Limit
Archery and CrossbowAntlered or Antlerless2 Deers4 Deers5 deers  (2 antlerless max)
Muzzleloading GunAntlered or Antlerless (max 1 antlerless)
General GunAntlered only
Other SeasonsAntlered only

Other Big Games

SpeciesZoneSeasonDatesBag LimitHunting Method
BearEast Panhandle, North, Central, and SouthGeneral gunOct. 21-291 per person per seasonRifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, muzzleloaders, crossbows, or bows
Wild hogStatewideYear-roundNo closed seasonNo limitRifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows, or dogs

Turkey

ZoneSeasonDatesBag Limit
NorthYouth turkey hunt weekendMarch 9-101 per person per day, 2 per season
NorthSpring turkey seasonMarch 16 – April 21
SouthYouth turkey hunt weekendMarch 2-3
SouthSpring turkey seasonMarch 2 – April 7

Migratory & Waterfowl Birds

StatewideSeasonDatesBag Limit
DucksEarly tealSep. 16 – Sep. 246
 RegularNov. 18 – Nov. 26 Dec. 9 – Jan. 286
GeeseEarly Canada gooseSep. 2 – Sep. 245
 RegularNov. 18 – Nov. 26 Dec. 1 – Jan. 305
DovesPhase ISep. 23 – Oct. 2315
 Phase IINov. 11 – Dec. 415
 Phase IIIDec. 12 – Jan. 1515
SnipeSnipeNov. 1 – Feb. 158
WoodcockWoodcockDec. 18 – Jan. 313
RailsKing and clapper railsSep. 1 – Sep. 24 Nov. 18 – Jan. 2115
 Sora and Virginia railsSep. 1 – Sep. 24 Nov. 18 – Jan. 2125
CrowsCrowsOct. 28 – Nov. 12 Dec. 2 – Feb. 18No limit

Upland Games

StatewideSeasonDatesBag Limit
QuailQuailNov. 11 – Mar. 412
Gray squirrelGray squirrelOct. 14 – Mar. 412
RabbitRabbitYear-roundNo limit

Furbearers

Hunting/Trapping (Statewide)DatesBag LimitHunting Method
Bobcat, OtterDec. 1 – March 1No limitRifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows, or dogs/Live traps or snares
Raccoon, Opossum,  Skunk, Nutria, Beaver, CoyoteYear-roundNo limitRifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows, or dogs/Live traps or snares

Mason Miller founded and leads WildlifeForum.org, a forum promoting ethical hunting and conservation. Mason, an avid outdoorsman and naturalist, studies and protects animals via activism, instructing, and research. His love of nature and dedication to sustainability inspired him to start WildlifeForum.org for responsible hunters, anglers, and outdoor lovers.
Mason Miller

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